Customers had been bugging Markus Pineyro, owner of Urban Taco, about creating a brunch menu for a long time, but it wasn’t until he visited his family in Mexico that the idea started formulating in the back of his mind.

“A lot of things we do at Urban Taco are very personal,” said Pineyro, whose brunch cuisine (a mix of modern and traditional) draws inspiration from his trip down south.

Markus Pineyro, owner (left); fresh-squeezed orange juice (right)

The menu, starting March 31, will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 3 pm only in its Uptown location. Some of the highlights include: chilaquiles rojas and verdes, huevos rancheros, and la jolla french toast with a sweet caramel sauce.

At the media brunch I attended, it took a lot of self-discipline to turn down the cocktails, mimosas, and Bloody Mary offerings, but there was no way I could get any work done later with a buzz. Instead, I sipped happily on my fresh-squeezed orange juice with just the right amount of pulp.

The portions are purposefully large and they are meant to be shared among friends and family, while Urban Taco’s casual atmosphere provides that leisurely weekend brunch experience we daydream about on Fridays before we clock out of work. What a perfect way to start off a Saturday or Sunday morning.